Don’t Let the Gingerbread House That Is Your Data Backup Crumble

Let’s review the principles of the 3-2-1 Backup Rule and how you can use it to create a more reliable, disaster-proof data backup solution that stands the test of time.

What Makes for a Reliable Backup

Turns out, the 3-2-1 rule can also be applied to making a great gingerbread house. There are three overall components of a gingerbread house: the cookie sheets, the icing, and the candy decorations. These elements align with the biggest concept of the 3-2-1 rule: multiple copies of your data.

• 3: The cookie sheets that make up the walls are similar to the servers that house your data.
• 2: The icing makes up your on-site backup. It’s there and ready to cover up any imperfections or patch up any problems with the integrity of your infrastructure (think network-attached storage backup).
• 1: The candy decorations that make the house look pretty are also your off-site backup. This off-site backup is the failsafe used to recover from a true data loss emergency. We like to recommend the cloud specifically because it can redundantly store data in multiple different locations. This ensures you always have a copy available.

How to Support Your Backup

The biggest factor to consider here is having three copies of your data at a minimum. You know, have a backup of your backup. After all, if your server gets damaged or destroyed, you’ll have your network-attached storage, but if both of them are damaged beyond repair, you’ll need that off-site cloud-based backup ready to go on a new piece of hardware. This is like having a solid plate to use as the foundation for your gingerbread house.

How to Protect Your Backup

A redundant backup is more than just having three copies, though. Your backup must also be secure. You can’t leave it out in the open. Otherwise, just like someone will snatch up a gumdrop from the roof of your gingerbread house, so too will a hacker or other cybercriminal take a stab at swiping your data backup. Storing these backups off-site in a secure data center makes them better protected than if they were stored locally, as providers will have more resources to better protect your data than you do.

Need a Hand With Your Backup Practices?

If you’re ready to protect your data, don’t wait any longer… because the longer you wait, the more opportunities there will be for problems to surface. Get ahold of ITG for the best backup solutions. To learn more, call us today at 518-479-3881.